State v. Pedersen

UHLENHOPP, Justice.

The question in this appeal from a first-degree murder conviction is whether defendant Clarence D. Pedersen was mentally competent to stand trial.

Defendant has a history which includes residences in mental institutions, use of controlled substances, mutilation of livestock, and a nomad existence. The State’s psychiatrist, Paul L. Loeffelholz, M. D., diagnosed defendant as having a schizoid personality disorder. The diagnosis of defendant’s psychiatrist, George A. Young III, M. D., is schizophrenia, simple or chronic undifferentiated type.

Mr. and Mrs. Clarence Pedersen, Sr.…